18.11.09

Raid In Bolton

Shaykh Farooqui’s family have been shocked and remain highly distressed at his arrest on Monday, and at his continued detention.

This is a man who is widely known for his gentleness, wisdom and sweet-natured disposition, and it is simply incredible to those that know him and his work to imagine that he could be involved in the promotion or incitement of any sort of violence. Indeed, he has sacrificed all his energy over the past 30 years to promote the beauty of Islam, and to encourage and inspire Muslims to embrace the excellence of character and consideration for others that has been the hallmark of true Islam across the centuries.

It is particularly shocking that, having influenced so many, young and old, male and female, to live as law-abiding, trustworthy citizens, he is now being accused of actions which he has so openly opposed for so long. He has always gone out of his way to foster good relations with the local police, in order to work together as a community to solve society’s social ills, and this makes his arrest and continued detention at the hands of that same police force all the more disgraceful and unacceptable.

The family are grateful for the messages of support they have received from Imams and Muslim communities across the region and beyond, and join them in demanding that Shaykh Farooqui be released immediately.

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